Written Answers Wednesday 5 January 2011

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have been treated for alcohol addiction in each year since 2007, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34168 on 15 June 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Ambulance Service

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many falls the Scottish Ambulance Service has responded to during the recent cold weather conditions and how this compares with the same period in 2009.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Ambulance Service has advised that between 26 November 2010 and 12 December 2010 they responded to 3,231 incidents where the dispatch code was recorded as falls. This compares with 1,306 over the same period in 2009, and represents an increase of 147% reflecting the earlier severe winter weather compared to last year.

Courts

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the interim practice guidance published on 20 December 2010 by the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales regarding the use of live text-based forms of communication, including Twitter, from court for the purposes of fair and accurate reporting will lead to similar measures allowing such communication from Scottish courts.

Kenny MacAskill: Matters relating to rules of court and the efficient disposal of business in the Scottish courts are a matter for the Lord President of the Court of Session under section 2(2)(a) of the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008.

Justice

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Justices of the Peace have been instructed not to put people subject to a fixed penalty notice on supervised attendance orders.

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a Justice of the Peace, when presiding in a fines court, is given information relating to the reason for the issue of a fixed penalty notice.

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what disposal is available to a Justice of the Peace when a person appearing for non-payment of a fixed penalty notice is unable to pay.

Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.